Rotary converter sealing devices



Aug. 16, 1955 Filed June 3, 1954 c. H. THAYER 2,715,568

ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F b E INVENTOR. 25 CLARENCE H. THAYER IO F ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1955 c. H. THAYER 2,715,568

ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Filed June 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IO 45 4: /46 4| 43 \q 43 E fi 44 F 5 70 g PM 0 Q y INVENTOR. A/w CLARENCE H. THAYER ATTORNEY United States Patent OfiFice Patented Aug. 16, 19 55 Clarence H. Thayer, Wallingford,

Oil Company, Philadelphia, Jersey Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,237 2 Claims. (Cl. 23-288) Pa., assignor to Sun Pa., a corporation of New In an application filed September 14, 1953, Serial No. 380,027, later allowed, and issued March 22, 1955, as Patent No. 2,704,741, there is shown and described a converter in which different fluids are passed successively through contact material, typically a catalyst, from which effluent products are successively removed. The converter comprises fixed inner and outer cylindrical casings, and an annular rotatable reaction vessel between such casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces each of which is enclosed, top and bottom, by circumferentially extending sealing devices, and each of which is divided by vertically extending sealing devices into independent arcuate spaces or compartments. One of said casings, preferably the inner casing, is divided into compartments, equal in number to said arcuate spaces, into which the different fluids to be passed into the contact material are conveyed and from which such fluids continuously flow into the corresponding arcuate spaces and thence into radially extending catalyst containers communicating at opposite ends with said inner and outer circumferential spaces, which containers, in the rotation of the reaction vessel, are brought into communication one after another with the several arcuate spaces. The vertically extending sealing devices carried by the two casings are arranged in pairs, one carried by each casing, so that at any given time in the rotation of the reaction vessel the same set of catalyst-containing containers communicates with corresponding inner and outer arcuate spaces.

It is of importance that these seals shall be as fluidtight as possible in order to avoid leakage from one arcuate compartment to another; also to prevent such leakage in case of any departure from perfect fluid-tightness.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the converter showing only such features thereof as are necessary to embody the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of the converter.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view in detail of one of the seals, the seal selected for illustration being one of the vertically extending seals between the outer casing and the reaction vessel.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a vertically extending seal and a circumferentially extending seal and parts adjacent thereto.

The main features of construction of the converter, disclosed in more detail in said prior application and to which the improved sealing devices are applied, Will first be briefly described, reference being made more particularly to Figures 1 and 2. t

10 is an outer cylindrical casing which is fixed to a supporting base 11. The casing 19 is made pressuretight and encloses the reaction vessel 12 containing the catalyst.

The reaction vessel 12 is annular in shape, being formed by an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical Wall connected by upper and lower annular plates.

The reaction vessel 12 contains a multiplicity of simiber larly shaped catalyst chambers 15 arranged around the vessels circumference, each chamber also extending vertically from at or near the top to at or near the bottom of the reaction chamber. These chambers may assume different forms, another form being disclosed in said prior application; but the simplified form shown is adequate to illustrate the application of the invention to any arrangement of catalyst-containing chambers. Each chamber contains catalyst of a type and activity suitable for the desired hydrocarbon reaction.

The reaction vessel 12 is disposed Within the casing 16 to provide an outer annular space 25 between the casing and the outer wall of the reaction vessel, a lower space 25 between the base 11 and the lower wall 14 of the reaction vessel and an enlarged space 27 above the upper Wall of the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is rotatable by means not shown.

Within and spaced from the reaction vessel is an inner stationary casing 35 forming between it and the inner Wall of the reaction vessel an annular space 28. The inner casing is divided by a number of walls or partitions 36 into four (preferably sector-shaped) compartments 37 into which are fed, respectively: the hydrocarbons to be reacted; purging fluid, such as steam; a regenerating medium, such as air, to remove carbon deposited on the catalyst in the first step; and a second purging to remove regenerating products formed during the third step. Three of the four supply conduits, lettered a, b and c, that sup ply three of the above specified fluids to their respective sectors are shown in Fig. 1. From the several compartments 37 of the casing 35 the several specified fluids flow into the several arcuate spaces or compartments into which the annular space 28 is divided by the vertically extending seals E, and from such arcuate spaces into the catalyst-containing chambers 15. These arcuate spaces are four in number, corresponding in number to the compartments 37, and the seals E align vertically with the partitions 36 that divide the inner easing into such compartments 37. Each arcuate space thus constantly receives one of the supply fluids.

The annular space 28 is sealed at the top by a circumferentially extending seal, or series of seals, G, and at the bottom by a circumferentially extending seal, or series of seals, H.

The annular space 25 between the reaction vessel 12 and the outer cylindrical casing 10 is sealed at the top by circumferentially extending seals I and at the bottom by circumferentially extending seals J. The outer vertically extending seals F are paired with the inner vertically extending seals E, so that, at any given time in the rotation of the reaction vessel, the same set of catalyst-containing chambers 15 communicates with the corresponding or paired arcuate spaces inside and outside the reaction vessel 12.

This description, so far as no feature of construction which is essentially different from What is disclosed in said prior application. Many features of such construction, not essential to a full dis closure of the invention herein sought to be patented, are omitted, and the seals, hereinafter described in detail, are shown only diagrammatically. It may be desirable, however, to briefly describe the operation common to said prior application and the present disclosure. As the reaction vessel 12 rotates, each catalyst-containing cham- 15 registers successively with the several arcuate spaces, between the reaction vessel 12 and the inner casing 35, into which the circumferential spaces are divided by the seals B. Each catalyst-containing chamber 15 thus receives successively the several fluids supplied to the several arcuate spaces from the respective compartments 37 within the inner casing 15. At any given moment a considerable number of these compartments 15 it has proceeded, discloses fluids contain'edin the adjacent arcuate spaces.

' casing as these need differ rec ives. the same fluid. The vertical seals E that determine the lengths, measured arcuately, of the-several arcuate spaces between the inner casing 35 and the rotating reaction vessel 12 are of sufiicient width to each overlap the inlet to any one catalyst-containing chamber 15. The same description applies to the rotating reaction vessel and the outer casing 12. Thus at any given moment oneset of catalyst-containing chambers 15 is receiving, .from one of the inner arcuate spaces, the samehydrocarbon reactant or the samepurging fluid and is reaction orpurging into the corresponding outer arcuate space, from each of which outer arcuate spaces the products of reaction or purging are removed through a common conduit. The several discharge conduits 47 are shown in Fig. 2. V

The sealing devices E, F, G, H, I, J are designed for application tow a converter of the type described. and are illustrated in detail in Figures 1, 3 and 4, reference being made particularly to Figures 3 and 4. While Figure 3 shows one of the vertically extending seals F between the rotatable reaction vessel 12 and the stationary outer casing 10, all the seals, whether extending vertically or circumferentially, are or may be of the same'specific construction and therefore require no separate specific descriptions. All are supported from one or the other of the fixed casings 10 and 35.

Secured to the outer casing 10, preferably'by welding, are spaced apart vertically extending bars 41 to which is bolted a vertically extending holder 42, extending from one bar to the other and providing an enclosure 40 bounded by the casing 10, the bars 41 and the holder 42. Gaskets 43 are confined between the bars and the holder. Between projections 44 on the holder--42 is a vertically extending sealing block F which, although having aclose contact with said projections, is capable of a radial sliding movement. It is, however, held tightly against, and in sealing contact with, the face of the rotatable reaction vessel by means of a pressure fluid, such as steam. Such pressure fluid acts upon the rear face of the sealing block the arcuate spaces between discharging the products of I through a passage 45 extending through the wall of the casing 10, the enclosure 40 and an orifice 46 in the holder 42.

fluid, admitted through passage 45, enclosure 40 and orifice 46 at-a pressure higher'thanthe pressure of the Such pressure fluid. not only holds the sealing block F -in sealing. contact with the rotatable reaction vessel 12, but also, in the event that the contact between the sealing block and-the holder 42 should not be fluidtight, is forced between the opposing facesof the holder and the sealing block into one or both of such arcuate spaces. Such .limited leakage is not objectionable;

.There is no occasion to describe'the vertically extending sealing devices located between the inner casing 35 and thereaction vessel 12,,or thec'ircumfer'entially extending sealing devices between 'the'r'ea'ction vessel 12 and each the sealing device hereinbefore described. V

The circumfer'entially extending sealingunits G,.H, 'I, I

may be overlapped by the ends of the vertically extend ing sealing. unitsB and F. Any vertically extending sealing unit'may, desired, be made in sections,-adjaeentf sections overlapping, and the end sections of a vertical row of sealing: units may overlap adjacent circumferena tially extending'sealing units, which latter, also, may be madein sections. Pins 70, suchas shown inFi g. 4, may extend through one of. the overlapping sealing units and may makeclose' to end'contact with the adjacent sealing in no essential respect from unit without impairing the efliciency and tightness of the sealing device. These features, shown and described in said prior application, are not herein shown in detail, since they constitute no feature of the sealing devices included in the claims.

It will be understood that while. it is contemplated that seals such as shown and described shall be utilized as both the inner and. outer vertically extending seals and as upper, and lower circumferentially' extending seals, it is within the scope'ofthe invention to utilize such seals as either only vertically extending inner or outer seals or as upper or lower circumferentially extending seals and do not necessarily exclude the use of other diflerenthproducts are successively removed, the same comprising .a fixed outer cylindrical casing, a fixed inner cylindrical casing, an annular revoluble reaction vessel containing a multiplicity of catalyst chambers arranged around the vessels circumference and each extending generally radially within the vessel, said vessel being located. between the inner and outer casings and spaced from both to form inner'and outer circumferential spaces partitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing devices toformsets of inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive the respective fluids, and the arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the effluent fluids; the improvement inany of said sealing devices which comprises spaced-apart bars secured to one of the casings,

aholder extending between the bars, the opposite ends of which underlie and are secured to the bars and forming with said b'ars and the casing an enclosure, a sealing block carried by and closely filling the holder but capable of sliding movement perpendicular to the adjacent wall of the reaction vessel there being a passage,- adapted 'forconnection. with a source of pressure fluid, opening into said enclosure, the holder having an orifice affording fluid communication between said enclosure and the space between the holder and the inner face of the sliding block, said pressure fluid thereby acting to maintain the block in sealing contact vessel and blocking leakage, from either of the arcuate spaces on opposite sides of the sealing device, between the opposed faces of the holder and sealing block.

2.'The combination with a structure comprising a fixedv cylindrical casing and a revoluble casing having a number of substantially radially extending chambers, the casings forming between them a circumferential space into which fluid is adapted to flow throughone casing and out of which fluid is adapted to flow through-the other casing, of a sealing device between the casings which extends for a limited arcuate distancewithin saidcircumferentially extending space and preventing leakage of said fluid from the space ahead of or behind said sealing device into the last named easing into which said fluid would flow in the absence of a seal, said seal ing device. comprising spaced apart bars secured to oneof the casings, a holder extending between the bars,

.the opposite endsof which underlie and are secured to the bars and forming with said bars and the casing. an enclosure, a sealing block carried by and closely filling the holder but capable of sliding movement perpendicular to the adjacent wall of the other casing, there being a passage adapted for connection with a source of presdevice .constitutes an element. 7

with the wall of the reaction References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 980,666 France May 16, 1951 543,093 Great Britain Feb. 10, 1942 463,069 Italy Apr. 14, 1951 

1. IN A CONVERTER IN WHICH DIFFERENT FLUIDS ARE FED SUCCESSIVELY INTO CATALYST CONTAINERS AND FROM WHICH THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ARE SUCCESSIVELY REMOVED, THE SAME COMPRISING A FIXED OUTER CYLINDRICAL CASING, A FIXED INNER CYLINDRICAL CASING, AN ANNULAR REVOLUBLE REACTION VESSEL CONTAINING A MULTIPLICITY OF CATALYST CHAMBERS ARRANGED AROUND THE VESSEL''S CIRCUMFERENCE AND EACH EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY WITHIN THE VESSEL, SAID VESSEL BEING LOCATED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER CASINGS AND SPACED FROM BOTH TO FORM INNER AND OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACES PARTITIONED BY VERTICALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACES ING SEALING DEVICES TO FORM SETS OF INNER AND OUTER ARCUATE SPACES, THE ARCUATE SPACES OF ONE SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RESPECTIVE FLUIDS, AND THE ARCUATE SPACES OF THE OTHER SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE EFFLUENT FLUIDS; THE IMPROVEMENT IN ANY OF SAID SEALING DEVICES WHICH COMPRISES SPACED-APART BARS SECURED TO ONE OF THE CASINGS, A HOLDER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BARS, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF WHICH UNDERLIE AND ARE SECURED TO THE BARS AND FORMING WITH SAID BARS AND THE CASING AN ENCLOSURE, A SEALING BLOCK CARRIED BY AND CLOSELY FILLING THE HOLDER BUT CAPABLE OF SLIDING MOVEMENT PERPENDICULAR TO THE ADJACENT WALL OF THE REACTION VESSEL, THERE BEING A PASSAGE, ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A SOURCE OF PRESSURE FLUID, OPENING INTO SAID ENCLOSURE, THE HOLDER HAVING AN ORIFICE AFFORDING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID ENCLOSURE AND THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE INNER FACE OF THE SLIDING BLOCK, SAID PRESSURE FLUID THEREBY ACTING TO MAINTAIN THE BLOCK IN SEALING CONTACT WITH THE WALL OF THE REACTION VESSEL AND BLOCKING LEAKAGE, FROM EITHER OF THE ARCUATE SPACES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SEALING DEVICE, BETWEEN THE OPPOSED FACES OF THE HOLDER AND SEALING BLOCK. 